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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-01-31 Min - Board TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT PLANNING DIRECTOR ACTIVITIES JANUARY, 1996 S rate is Planning/District Savings Business Customer Communications/Survey- Staff has decided that it will be in the District's best interest to develop a positive, open line of communication with our largest business customers by having one-on-one meetings with the Managers. The meetings will also involve asking them questions about how they feel about TDPUD's service and how they see working with TDPUD in the future. Discussions with our twenty-five largest customers is planned for completion in Spring. Staff has applied for a $5,000 grant to hire a consultant to help Staff in this effort. TDPUD Competition Plan- Staff is preparing a report about the different utility issues we are currently being challenged by. The report will include a discussion of the different approaches TDPUD can take to meet these challenges as well as an analysis and recommendations to respond to competition. This comprehensive report is being postponed until the evaluation results of the GSHP pilot, the large Business Customer meetings and other competition related projects and issues are available. Energy/Water Showcase Program- HDR Engineering, Inc. is currently preparing a report that will identify energy and cost-saving energy-efficiency water system improvement options available to TDPUD. They have requested pump testing data from us to complete the report. TDPUD can then decide which options to implement based on their cost-effectiveness to the District. Conservation/DSM/Economic Development Ground Source Heat Pump Pilot Site Activity- Nine GSHP pilot site units are current- ly in operation. There are still two pilot sites in planning: a site in Glenshire and a second site in Tahoe Donner. Plans are to complete these activities by Summer 1996. GSHP Pilot Project Funding Assistance- The $181,000 Truckee Donner PUD/SMUD CEC GSHP pilot monitoring and evaluation project is near implementation. Four interested consulting energy engineers responded to the January 26, 1996 RFP deadline. A consultant will be selected by March to begin administering SMUDs and TDPUD's pilots. I participated in a pre-bid conference with potential pilot consultants January 9th. CFIA Demonstration Project- I have recently been in contact with Professor Samuel Sami of Moneton University in Canada regarding his development of a Combined Cycle Fully Integrated Air/Air Heat Pump(CFIA). Experimental tests show it has comparable performance benefits of GSHPs without the cost of ground loops. I have applied for a $5,000 grant to begin a two unit demonstration project in Truckee. GSHP/Water Heater Promotion- Staff is working toward getting the Truckee GSHP pilot monitoring program in place so that we will have data available to perform an analysis of the benefits and costs of using GSHPs in Truckee. The results of this data will be used to determine GSHP's role in TDPUD's Competition Plan. Energy Surveys/High Bill Assistance- Staff completed 1 commercial and 4 residential energy surveys this month. Staff also responded on-site to 3 "high" bill complaints. Business & Energy Efficiency Partnership- The incorporation of energy and water efficiency measures are expected to be retrofitted into the Chamber building by Summer, 1995. Currently about 75% of these measures are installed. Staff has submitted a grant application for $5,000 to fund the development of a low-water use demonstration garden at the Chamber facility. Silvertip and Rare Earth Landscaping contractors have agreed to coordinate this project. Staff is currently working on a self-guided tour brochure of energy and water efficiency measures for the Chamber building. An Open House for the new Chamber facility and the Business & Energy Efficiency Partnership will be planned for after the completion of the energy and water efficiency retrofits as well as the water-efficient landscaping around the building. This Open House may be combined with a Chamber mixer and is expected to take place by Fall, 1996. Communications/Public Relations/Education Newsletter- The Spring Current Issues newsletter is currently being discussed. �-- Truckee Water Information Piece- A water information piece is currently being developed to educate TDPUD customers on the value of TDPUD water. TDPUD Display System- Staff is currently investigating the different types of display systems commercially available. The Display system will be set up in the Lobby the majority of time. The system we select will be portable for use in the Truckee Home Show. Staff will be visiting the Reno Retail Trade Show in early February to see what types of display systems are available. Susan Craig has provided Scott with valuable assistance in the development, review and editing of documents especially in the area of Communications. Community/Statewide Involvement Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee- Working with other businesses in reviewing: the General Plan, an Incubator/Business Park Feasibility Study. Staff attended the January 16 EDC meeting to discuss the General Plan. Tahoe-Forest Hospital Healthly City Committee- Working with other agencies and community groups in the development of a Healthly City Plan for Truckee. Staff participated in the January 26 meeting to develop a Mission Statement and Goals. Town of Truckee Air Quality Management Plan Advisory Committee- Will be working with other group and agency representatives in reviewing a draft report on Truckee's AQMP prepared by the Northern-Sierra AQMD in conjunction with the Town of Truckee. The first meeting of the Advisory Committee is scheduled for February 8. Nevada County Economic Resource Council- Staff attended a focus group meeting January 31. The Nevada County ERC may be able to assist Truckee in Business Retention and Attraction. California Municipal Utilities Association Committee on Energy Efficiency- Working with other public utilities Statewide on a Model Energy Services/Competition Program Guidebook which will contain the various strategies utilities are using to respond to a changing, more competitive electric utility environment. Programs are designed to increase customer satisfaction and result in customer retention. I participated in a Model Energy Services Program Guidebook meeting January 4 in Sacramento where we selected the project consultant, Barakat and Chamberlin. The Guidebook is expected to be completed by June, 1996. CEC California Ground Source Heat Pump Collaborative- Staff participates in quarterly meetings of the California Energy Commission's GSHP Collaborative. The Collaborative was formed to oversee the development and promotion of the GSHP industry in California. The CEC is currently assisting PG&E, SCE, SMUD and TDPUD in getting the State's share of $100,000,000 earmarked for GSHPs through the National Earth Comfort Program. The next meeting of the Collaborative to discuss the California GSHP Proposal to the National GSHP Consortium will take place February 14. Employee Safety/Training Safety Committee- The TDPUD Safety Committee met January 11 to review existing safety activities as well as to consider new activities. Wellness Program/Health Screenings- TDPUD Employees participated in hearing tests this month. Wellness Program/Healthy Meals- This continues to be a popular program with TDPUD employees. We had a "healthy" lunch on January 3 of this month. Wellness Program/Health Education- Staff has been working with Tahoe-Forest Hospital Staff to develop a fitness "course" in the TDPUD building using mostly existing facilities. Many exercises do not require special equipment- a chair, wall, floor or step may suffice. Additional exercise equipment will be considered. Facilities Inspection- The TDPUD Safety Committee completed a safety report detailing its findings during its inspection of TDPUD facilities. This is an annual requirement of the Federally mandated Injury and Illness Prevention Program. CPR Course- TDPUD employees participated in a CPR re-certification course 1001" Wednesday, January 24 from 8 a.m.-12 Noon.